Table for stretching fabric



Jan. 17, 1933. c. M. MCCARTHY TABLE FOR STRETCHING FABRIC Filed Dec. 11,1930 5 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR M Q m ATTORNEYS Jan. 1?, 1933., 3, MCCARTHYTABLE FOR STRETCHING FABRIC Filed Dec. 11. 19150 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 NMQlNVENTOR CHARLES P1. N CAR H Y BY Jan. 17, 1933. c. M. M CARTHY TABLEFOR STRETCHING FABRIC Filed Dec. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 v- H T R R w"Kn R. N m rm mm H ML R W m Patented Jan. 17, 1933 CHARLES M. MCCARTHY,F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA TABLE FOR STRETCHIN G FABRIC Application filedDecember 11, 1930. Serial No. 501,566.

This invention relates to a device for handling fabric such as fabricfor draperies, and particularly to a machine for stretching, measuringand arranging said fabric for hemming.

It is now the practice in many stores and other establishments, to cutthe material for curtains, drapes, etc., from the bolt and to lay thesame out on the table in order that the curtains or drapes can befinished. It is desirable to have simple, efiicient and rapidly operatedmeans for holding and stretching the fabric for measuring the same, andfor so disposing the same that one end can be folded to form a hem. Itis also desirable to have such a device which will not pierce or in anyway injure the fabric.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a simple andefficient fabric stretching, measuring and handling device, by means ofwhich the fabric can be easily and quickly manipulated.

It is a further objectof the invention to provide a device forstretching and manipulating the fabric, comprising a table preferably ofrectangular form, a member slidable on the table and extendingtransversely thereof, with means thereon for holding the fabric and amember adjacent one end of the table for engaging and holding thefabric.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a fabric stretchingand handling device comprising a rectangular table, a member extendingtransversely thereof at right angles to the edges of the table, saidmember having cloth holding means thereon, means for holding said memberin fixed position at various points on said table, a cloth holdingdevice adjacent one end of the table compris- 40 ing a bar movable intoengagement with the cloth and over which the cloth is adapted to befolded, said bar being free at one end so that the cloth can be slidtherefrom.

It is also an object of the invention to pro- 45 vide a fabricstretching and handling device comprising a table, rigid guide meansalong the edge thereof, a member extending trans versely of said tableand having means depending at the sides of said guide membersrespectively, longitudinally spaced rollers carried by each of saidmeans and engaging said guide members to prevent lateral or verticalmovement of said first mentioned memher, said member having a clothholding means thereon.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a clothstretching and manipulating device comprising a rectangular table, amember extending transversely thereof and having a novel form of clothholding or clamping means thereon. 1 It is also another object of theinvention to provide a fabric stretching and handling device comprisinga rectangular table having a recess extending transversely thereofadjacent one of its ends, a yieldingly mounted supporting member in saidrecess, and a bar adapted to engage the cloth on said supporting member,together with means for raising and lowering said bar.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which Fig. 1 is a viewin side elevation of the table, certain portions thereof bein brokenaway and some parts shown in difi erent positions in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 2-2 of Figs. 1and 3, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device, a portion thereof being brokenaway;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3, as indicatedby the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 3, as indicated bythe arrows;

Fig. 8 is a view in side elevation of one of the legs of the table; and

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation of one part of the table with certainparts being broken away and others shownin vertical section.

Referring to the drawings, a table is shown supported on a plurality oflegs 15, these legs being six in number and arranged in rectangularformation with a pair or" legs at the middle portion of the sides of therectan- 1e. While the legs 15 may be variously ormed, in the embodimentof the invention illustrated they are shown as made of angle bars havingsolid or block-like portions 15a at their lower ends into which arethreaded the screws 16 having semispherical heads 16a adapted to engagea supporting surface with their convex sides. Screws 16 are preferablyprovided with holes 16b by which they may be turned by the applicationof a. suitable tool. The legs 15 at their upper ends are secured toangle bars 17 which extend transversely beneath and are secured at thebottom of the table top 18. Said table top 18 is of rectangular form andthe same has secure to its sides and ends T-shaped bars 19. Angle bars17 are bolted to the central part or stem of the T-bars 19 by bolts 17ahaving heads countersunk in members 19. The table top 18 has adjacentone end a recess 18a extending thereacross, at one side of which isdisposed an angle bar 20 having one flange set into the table top and atthe other side of which is disposed a fiat bar 21 secured to the side ofthe recess with its top flush with the upper surface of the table top18. A plurality of spaced curved brackets 22 are secured to bars 20 and21 and extend therebetween below the same, said brackets havingapertures at their central portions through which extend the bolts 23.Bolts 23 have heads at their upper ends countersunk into a supportingmember 24 of crescent or trough-shape at its upper portion and havingvertically depending flanges 24a. Bolts 23 have a pair of nuts 25thereon below bracket 22, and a nut 26 thereon immediately below member24, a coiled spring 27 encircling said bolt and bearing at its lower endagainst bracket 22 and at its upper end against nut 26. A bar 28 havinga flat top and a lower surface curved with the same curvature as member24, extends across the table above member 24 and is secured at one endto a lever 29 secured to a shaft 30 journaled in bearings beneath tabletop 18 and in an angle bar 31 secured to an angle bar 32 secured totable top 18 and to bar 17. Lever 29 has a handle 29a by which it ismanipulated and is adapted, when in raised position, to engage a stoppin 33 secured in one of the T-members 19. A pedal lever 29?) at theopposite side of the table from lever 29 is connected by link 290 to anarm 29d secured to the other end of shaft 30. Lever 29b is pivoted to abracket 299 secured to one of the legs 15. Shaft 30 has a collar orwasher 34 thereon at the inner side of the angle 31, held in place by apin 35. Said shaft is thus held against outward movement. Bar 28projects beyond the edge of the table opposite lever 29 and is providedwith an aperture 28a which is adapted to fit over a tongue 36a extendingupward from a bracket 36 secured to one of the members 19 by screws 37 Abuffer member 38 of yielding material, such as leather, is also securedby screws 37 to the outer side of bracket 36. It will be understood thatthe flanges of members 19 at each side of the table are cut away toaccommodate bar 28 and openings 24?) are formed in the members 24 wherethey extend over the horizontal portions of member 19 to accommodate themovement of member 24. Table top 18 has a plurality of grooves 18?)shown as two in number, extending transversely thereof between recess18a and one end of said table, and said top is also provided with arecess 180 extending transversely thereof closely adjacent one end, saidrecess having undercut sides and extending between the members 19. Thelegs 15 are braced adjacent their upper ends by diagonally extendingbars 39 shown as crossed and being connected by a rivet 40. Braces 41alsofextend from the legs to the end of the table top 18.

A member 42 extends across table top 18 between recess 18a and the endmore remote therefrom. While said member may be variously made, in theembodiment of the invention illustrated it is shown as comprising awooden bar 42a to one end of which is secured the metal angle bar 42?)havingits horizontal flange set into bar 42a. Another angle bar 420 isdisposed some distance from angle bar 42?; and has its horizontal flangeset into a separate wooden bar 42d. Angle bars 42?) and 420 areconnected at their lower sides by a plurality of transversely extendingplates 420 which extend therebetween. Bars 42a and 42d are thus rigidlyconnected together as one member. Member 42 has secured at its underside at each end an angle member 43 to which is riveted another anglemember 44, the two thus forming a channel, in the top and bottomhorizontal flanges of which are journaled the trunnions a of a rollermember 45. Said roller member has portions 456 which extend over the topand bottom respectively of the vertical portion of members 19 at thesides of the table, and said roller also has portions of reduceddiameter adjacent portions 45b engaging the outer sides of the verticalportions of member 19 at the sidesof the table, as clearly shown in Fig.5. The members 43 and 44 extend some distance along the side of thetable top 43, as shown in Fig. 3, and the rollers 45 are journaledtherein adjacent the end thereof. Members 19 thus form guide means ormemhers at each side of the table. The member 42 is thus accuratelyguided for sliding movement longitudinally of the table, the rollers 45preventing lateral or vertical movementofjthe-member 42. Bar 42d has avertical surface 42f'from which extends the horizontal surface 429, andsaid bar has a cured to bar 42a. The hinges 49 have torsion springs 51secured to the parts thereof so that plates 47 are yieldingly urgeddownward to move rod 46 into engagement with surface 422'. A pluralityof cloth holding members 52 are provided, comprising short levers havingyielding material such as rubber 53 on their ends, engaging surface 429.The levers 52 are pivoted at one end to small brackets 54 secured to thetop of bar 42a and are equipped with small resilient plates 52a so thatthey are yieldingly urged downward into the position shown in Figs. 3and 4, or the same may be raised to substantially vertical posiv tion asshown in Fig. l and held therein. Bar

end thereof a of member 19.

42a is provided with a pair of handles 55.

Bar 42a has a recess 42;} formed in its under side adjacent angle bar420 and a rod 56 extends transversely of table top 18 in said recess,said rod having secured at one tubular extension 57a of bracket 57having a depending portion 575 at one side of the table to which issecured a plate 58 of rectangular shape, said plate being disposedalongside the vertical portion Tubular portion 57 a of bracket 57 restson one of the plates 426. Another bracket 59 having a tubular portion59a is carried on the opposite end of rod 56, being slidable on saidrod, said bracket also having a depending portion 59b to which issecured a rectangular plate 60. The tops of bars 43 are cut away toaccommodate the depending portions 575 and 595 of brackets 57 and 59.Rod 56 is threaded at its end adjacent bracket 59 and a nut 61 isscrewed tiereon, iaving a knurled cylindrical portion by which it ismanipulated. A headed screw 62 is secured in the end of rod 46 andprevents nut 61 being screwed 0% of said rod.

A coiled compression spring 63 encircles rod 56, engaging the bracket 59at one end and engaging at its other end a collar 64 pinned to the rod56. A similar coil compression spring 65 encircles rod 56, engagingbracket 57 at one end and engaging at its other end a small bracket 66secured to the bottom of table top 18.

A scale 67 is set into one edge of table top 18, extending from anglebar 20 to one of the T-members 19, said scale being graduated in inches.y

A bracket 68 is secured to one of the enc legs 15 and has outwardlyprojecting lugs at its top and bottom, to which are pivoted" by theheaded and nutted bolts 69 the arms of a bracket 70. Said arms convergeoutwardly and are secured together at their outer ends, the top barhaving a horizontal portion to which is secured an iron holder 71comprising a plate having an upstanding flange about its rear and sides.Holder 71 and bracket 70 can be swung under table top 18 as shown indotted lines in 3. A casing 72 is also secured to the bracket 68containing a pair of electric sockets with heir contacts con nected, sothat the plug of a cord extending to a source of current can be placedin one socket and the plug of an electric iron used can be placed in theother.

In operation the cloth to be handled, or from which a drape or curtainis to be made, will be ilaced on the table and the free edge portionwill be laid on the surface 42;; with its end against the verticalsurface 427. The member 42 will previously have been moved on the tableto give the desired length of the curtain. After member 42 is sopositioned, it is clamped and held in this position by the operatorturning the nut 61. hen nut 61 is turned in a clockwise direction, rod56 is moved to the left as seen in Fig. 2 and bracket 59 is moved to theright. -This move ment continues until clai'nping members 58 and 60 arebrought into clamping engagement with the members 19 at the sides of thetable. Member 42 is thus clamped to the table and held securely in oneposition. Springs 63 and 65 are compressed moves to the left and bracket59 moves to the right. It will be seen that when it is de sired torelease the member 42, the nut 61 can be turned and springs 63 and 65will thus force the brackets 57 and 59 to the right and leftrespectively, so that clamping plates 58 and 60 move away from members19. When the cloth is placed on surface 42g, members 52 are lifted untilthe edge of the cloth is positioned against surface 42;, after .whichsaid members are depressed onto the cloth so that it is lightly held inposition. When the cloth is positioned clear across member 42 or for theentire width of the cloth, the operator swings rod 46 down onto thecloth. the cloth, of course, being between rod 46 and the surfaces 422'and 42h. Rod 46 is raised to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig.1 when the cloth is being preliminarily positioned. After rod 46 islowered into engageas rod 56 wise of the table in fiat stretchedcondition, and is moved past the bar 28. This bar is raised, so that thecloth can pass thereunder and the cloth is brought down to one of the.ves 186 where it will be cut. If a narrow hem is to be made on thecloth, it will be out along the groove 18?) nearest bar 28, while if awider hem is to be used, itwill be cut along the groove farthestfrom bar28. Obviously, other grooves could be placed in the table if desired.The bar 28 is lowered onto the cloth when it is passed thereunder andthe cloth is clamped between support 24 and bar 28. Support 24 isyieldingly mounted, owing to the springs 27 and the cloth is thusyieldingly held. The hole 28a in bar 28 passes over the tongue 36a sothat bar 38 at its free end cannot be sprung lengthwise of the table byany tension of the cloth. The buffer 38 is provided so that bar 28 willbe cushioned and will not make a loud metallic noise as it lowered intoposition. It will be seen that the top surface of bar 28 issubstantially flush with the table top. The cloth, after being cut, isfolded over bar 28 towards member 2 and the hem can be pinned inposition. The re cess 180 is provided to form a. pocket to contain pins.It will be seen that the operator can easily secure a pin from thepocket, owing to the undercut edges of the pocket. It is desired,usually, to press the hem while it is on the bar 28 and the iron support71 is provided so that an electric iron can be placed thereon. Theoperator can conveniently use this iron to press down the hem on bar 28and the hem is thus easily and quickly pressed in the cloth. The bar 28can now be ifted by lifting lever 29 by its handle 29a and the hem slidoff of the bar 28 at the free end of the latter. Pedal lever 29?) isprovided so the operator can lift bar 28 from either side of the tableand will thus not have to walk back to lever 29 if at the opposite sideof the table. By raising rod 46 the curtain can now be removed from thetable. The edge will readily pull from under the memhere 52. It will beunderstood that member 42 can be very easily moved lengthwise of thetable by sliding it by means of the handles 55. Attention is called tothe fact that the rollers 45 carried by member 42 insure an accuratemovement and positioning of the member 42. It will be seen that owing tothe portion 45av of rollers as engaging the top and bottom of themembers 19, the member 42 cannot move vertically. The reduced portion ofthe rollers engaging the sides of member 19 also insure that there willbe no endwise play of the member 42. The table can be kept accuratelyleveled by adjustment of the screws 16 in the bottoms of the legs. Thetable is made quite rigid and is of a very rugged structure, due to themetal members 19 and the middle supporting work.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a verysimple and eflicient machine for handling cloth, and one which can beeasily and quickly operated for stretching cloth, measuring and hemmingcurtains, drapes and similar articles. The table formed by applicantsdevice has a smooth flat top accurately positioned in one plane and thegoods or cloth can be pressed on this table. Not only can the operationsbe quite rapidly performed, but the cloth is held by means which doesnot puncture the cloth or damage the same in any way. The device can benicely finished and the same gives a very pleasing appearance. Thedevice has been amply demonstrated in actual practice and found to bevery successful and efficient.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth and in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed anddefined in the appended claims.

\Vhat is claimed is 1. A fabric stretching device having in combination,a rectangular table, a member extending transversely of said tableguided at the sides thereof and slidable lengthwise thereof, aclampingmeans for cloth on said member, and a cloth holding means carried bysaid table dcpressible on said cloth adjacent one end of said table,said last mentioned means being liftable and having an end free ofconnection with said table so that cloth after being folded thereover,can be slid off at one end thereof.

2. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable, a member extending transversely of said table guided at the sidesthereof and slidable lengthwise thereof, a clamping means for cloth onsaid member, and a holding device for cloth ad jacent one end of saidtable comprising a support and a bar mounted to be raised and loweredfor engaging cloth on said support, said bar having a. flat top disposedsubstantially at the level of said table top, so that cloth can befolded over the same to form a hem.

3. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable, a member extending transversely of said table guided at the sidesthereof and slidable lengthwise thereof, a clamping means for cloth onsaid member, and a holding device for cloth adjacent one end of saidtable comprising a support and a member mounted to be raised and loweredfor engaging cloth on said support, and yielding means for causing ayielding engagement of said cloth by said last mentioned member.

7 parallel edges therefor, a

4. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable, a member extending transversely of said table and slidablethereon, means for holding said member in fixed position on said table,a yielding support extending transversely of said table below thesurface of said table and adjacent one end thereof, a clamping barengageable with said support for holding cloth thereon, and means forraising and lowering said bar.

5. Thestructure set forth in claim 4, said bar having a free endopposite said last mentioned means and a buffer of yielding material onsaid table for receiving and cushioning the free end of saidbar.

6. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangular tablehaving parallel edges, a member extending transversely of said table atright angles to said edges, said member having a concave surfacedirected toward one end of said table, a cloth clamping means adapted toengage said surface and having a convex yielding surface and meanscarrying said last mentioned means movable upwardly and downwardly sothat said first mentioned means may be raised from said concave surfaceand lowered into engagement with cloth thereon.

7. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable, a member extending transversely of said table at right angles tothe edges thereof, said member hav ing a vertical surface engageable bythe edge of a piece of cloth and having a horizontal surface adjacentsaid vertical surface, means engaging said cloth on the horizontalsurface for holding the same, a lower horizontal surface, an arcuatesurface extending between said horizontal surface, a rod of yieldingmaterial engaging said arcuate surface,

swinging means carrying said rod, and re silient means urging said rodtoward said arcuat-e surface.

8. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a table withparallel longitudinal edges, rigid parallel guide elements secured tosaid edges having side and bottom surfaces, a member extendingtransversely of said table and movable longitudinally thereof, havingrollers thereon, said rollers having surfaces extending at right anglesand respectively engaging said guide surfaces, and held from lateral andvertical movement thereby, a cloth clamping means on said member, andmeans on said member engaging said guide elements for holding saidmember in various fixed positions.

9. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a table with rigidbars forming member extending transversely of said table having means ateach end depending along said bars respectively, longitudinally spacedrollers carried by said means and having ofi'set portions,

said rollers engaging the sides, top and bottom of said bars, saidmember thus being guided for movement longitudinally of said table andextending at rightangles to the edge thereof said member having asurface engageable by the cloth and a clamping means carried by saidmember yieldingly engaging cloth on said surface.

10. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a table, a memberextending transversely thereof at right angles to the edges thereof andslidable longitudinally of said table, a rod slidably carried by saidmember extending across said table, a clamping member carried by saidrod and disposed adjacent one edge of said table, a tube slidable onsaid rod and carrying a clamping member disposed adjacent the other edgeof said table, and a nut threaded on said rod and engaging the outer endof said tube whereby said nut may be turned to cause said clampingmembers to engage said edges.

11. The structure set forth in claim 10, and a spring on said rodengaging the end of said tube at one end and held by said rod at itsother end.

12. The structure set forth in claim 10, a spring on said rod engagingthe end of said tube at one end and held by said rod at its other end,and a second spring on said rod engaging said first mentioned clampingmeans at one end and engaging a member fixed to said table at its otherend.

13; A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable, a recess extending transversely of said table adjacent one endthereof, a vertically yielding support with a concave arcuate surfacedisposed in said recess, a bar having a convex lower surface adapted toengage the cloth on said support and swinging means carrying said bar atone side of said table for raising and lowgring said bar, the other endof said bar being ree.

14'. 'Acloth handling'device having in combination, a table, a barextending across said table adjacent one end thereof, a lever pivotedfor upward swinging movement at one side of said table to which said baris secured at one end, and means engaging the other end of said bar whenin cloth holding position, so that movement of the latter end of the barlengthwise of the table is prevented.

15. A cloth stretching and measuring device having in combination, aflat topped table on which said cloth may be pressed, a member extendingtransversely of said table and movable lengthwise thereof, means on saidmember for holding the edge of a piece of cloth in position, clampingmeans on said member adapted to clamp said cloth so it can be stretchedand measuring means extending longitudinally of said table.

16. A fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable, a member extending across said table adjacentone end thereof forholding cloth-to be folded thereover and hemmed, means slidable on saidtable for'stretching cloth, a scale carried by said table for indicatingthe length of the cloth to-be hemmed, means for holding said slidablemeans-in-fixed position onsaidtable, and a plurality of indicating meansextend-- ing across said table, spaced. different distances from saidfirst mentioned member, for indicating the width of the hem to be madeinsaid cloth.

17. A fabric st r-etching device having in combination, a table having afiat topsurface, a flatmember engageable with cloth adjacent one end ofsaid table and extending transversely over said cloth and over whichcloth' can be folded to be hemmed, means cooperating with saidmemberto'clamp said cloth; and a member adjacent the other end ofi midtable extending thereacross atv right angles to the: side edges ofsaidtable and slidable lengthwiseof said table, cloth holding means on: saidlast mentioned member, andmeans holding said lastmentioned member infixed position whereby various lengths of the cloth can bestretched andhemmed. 7

158.. A: fabric stretching device having in combination, a rectangulartable having a flat top, a flat member extending across said tableadjacent one end adapted to be placed on said clotli,means cooperatingwith said" member to yielding-1y clamp said cloth so 35 that cloth can'be folded over said member and hemmed, arnember extending across-saidtableadjaaent the other end disposed at right angles to the 5" es ofsaid table, means on said lastmentioned member for holding saidcloth,mscale extending longitudinally of said table tor indicating thelengthof the cloth: to be hemmed, and means 'for holding said last mentionedmember'in fixed position longitudinally of said table. 45 CHARLES M.MCCARTHY.

